Healing Soils Foundation Awards Over $250,000 to Regenerative Farmers in First Round of Emergency Funding
CHICAGO, IL — Amid federal funding delays and growing uncertainty in the agriculture sector, the Healing Soils Foundation (HSF) has awarded more than $250,000 in emergency grants through its Regenerative Farmer Assurance Fund (RFAF). These recoupable grants are helping organic and regenerative farmers across the Midwest continue conservation and infrastructure projects delayed by stalled federal reimbursements.
Launched in March, RFAF was created in response to significant delays in USDA programs such as EQIP, REAP, FLSP, and RFSI, which left many approved farmers in financial limbo. RFAF provides fast, flexible bridge funding—allowing farmers to proceed with critical projects while waiting for public funds to arrive.
“Farmers can’t afford to wait. Conservation work, infrastructure planning, and planting seasons don’t pause for bureaucracy,” said Sarah Franz, Executive Director of Healing Soils Foundation. “These grants are helping regenerative farmers move forward when the system stalls—and keeping vital climate and food system work alive in the process.”
Round 1 recipients include:
Jóia Food Farm (IA) – Creating a rural hub for processing and marketing perennial grains and regenerative livestock
Squashington Farm (WI) – Scaling organic vegetable production for school nutrition programs and local markets
Just Roots/It Takes a Village (IL) – Launching a BIPOC-led agroforestry project focused on food access and farmer training
The Food Farm (MN) – Expanding organic production to improve soil health and climate resilience
Lakeview Hill Farm (MI) – Investing in improved labor and production
Stacyville Poultry Processing (IA) – Increasing regional processing capacity for 98 regenerative and organic poultry producers
Each of these projects reflects what’s possible when we meet farmers with the right support at the right time. And this is just the beginning. We are now reviewing applications for Round 2 of RFAF, set to launch in April 2024. So far, over 25 farms have applied, collectively requesting more than $1 million in funding.
The need is urgent. The momentum is real. And the opportunity to invest in the future of regenerative agriculture is right in front of us